Bucket cover



Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My invention consists in a new and useful improvement in bucket covers and is designed more particularly to provide a cover for a bucket for collecting sap, such as maple syrup. In using 5 such buckets, it is very important that satisfactory covers be placed upon them for keeping snow, rain, leaves, dirt, etc., out of the buckets where they not only injure the quality of the maple syrup, but they also greatly increase the amount of water in the sap and consequently the cost of production. It is the usual practice to suspend the bucket from the spout driven into the tree for the purpose of causing the sap to flow therefrom into the bucket, and to attach the bucket cover either to the spout or to the bucket. The primary requirement for the cover is that it shall prevent dust, dirt or any foreign matter from entering the bucket, and also prevent snow, rain or any water from flowing into the bucket, and it must also be so related to the spout and the bucket that the bucket may be hung upon and removed from the spout and also be tilted on the spout, without dislodging the cover, and the cover must be so mounted as not to be dislodged by wind. After very considerable experience with numerous types-of bucket covers, all of which have proven unsatisfactory, I have produced my improved cover and have found by actual experience that a cover made 80 in accordance with my invention fulfills all of the requirements above mentioned and serves as an entirely satisfactory means for protecting the sap within the bucket.

My improved cover contains the following fea- 35 tures: (1) a vertical flange extends across the entire width of the cover and acts as a stiffener for same. (2) The cover is mounted on the spout and is entirely free to move rotatively about the spout and is not attached to the bucket 40 ring or hook. (3) The cover is free to move up and down relative to the spout, due to the fact that there is provided in the cover an elongated or elliptical opening through which the spout is passed. This permits the outer end of the 45 cover to be raised or lowered within certain limits. Due to this feature, it is practical to put the cover down very close to the spout. The cover is free of the bucket and the bucket of the cover, within certain limits, but each restrains 60 the other, without interference with the proper functions of each. The vertical flange extends below the hole in, the bucket for the bucket hook and prevents.all water from entering the bucket on that side except such as might pass through 55 the elongated opening in the flange and I have provided a washer fitted on the spout, outside of the cover to prevent any water from entering through this opening. The vertical flange positioned against the bucket prevents the cover from being blown up off of the bucket and against 5 the tree.

While I have illustrated in the drawing filed herewith and have hereinafter fully described one specific embodiment of my invention, it is to be .distinctly understood that I do not con- 10 sider my invention limited to said specific embodiment, but refer for its scope to the claims appended hereto.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the sap spout, the 15 sap bucket suspended from the spout, and my improved cover applied to the spout and covering the bucket.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical section through the spout, bucket and cover. 20 Fig. 3 is a perspective view of my improved cover.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the cover.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the spout I 25 is driven into the bore 2 in the tree T, passing through the ring 3 of the hook 4 on which the bucket B is suspended. The shoulder 5 on the spout I serves to prevent the ring 3 from slipping off of the spout I. My improved cover C has the downwardly turned flange 6 of the same width as the cover C in which there is the slot 1 having the rectilinear sides 8, 8 and the semicircular ends 9, 9', and through which passes the spout I. It is to be noted that while the width of the slot 1 is substantially the same as the diameter of the spout I, the length of the slot 7 is somewhat greater than the diameter of the spout I.

It is to be noted that, as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the flange 6 is disposed relative to the cover C at an angle slightly less than 90; that the flange 6 is sufiiciently long as to extend well below the rim BI of the bucket B when the flange 6 is mounted on the spout I and the bucket B hangs from the spout I; and that the cover C and flange 6 are of a width slightly greater than the diameter of the rim B-I of the bucket B.

I provide a washer ID, of any suitable material, fitted closely about the spout I and against the outer face of the flange 6. This washer I0 serves to cover the opening II caused by the elongation of the slot 1.

From the foregoing description of the details of construction, the use of my improved cover will be obvious. In assembling the parts, the spout I is inserted through the ring 3 of hook 4, and then through the slot I of the flange 6. The washer I I] is then applied to the spout I and forced up against the flange 6, flange 6 moving against ring 3 until ring 3 bears against shoulder 5 on spout I. The spout I is then driven into the bore 2 in the tree T, thereby mounting both cover and hook 4. The bucket B is then suspended from. the book 4. It is to be noted that when the bucket B is inserted beneath the cover C and moved upwardly to permit its rim BI to pass over the hook 4, the cover 0 will be moved upwardly, pivoting on the spout I at the upper end 9 of the slot 1. This movement of the cover C is permitted by reason of the fact that the slot 1 has a length greater than the diameter of the spout I aifording the space I I. It is to be noted, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, that when the parts are assembled the outer end C-I of the cover C rests upon the rim B-I of the bucket B.

Having described my invention, what I claim 1. A bucket cover comprising a fiat plate and a flange disposed at an angle slightly less than to the plate and provided with an elliptical orifice therein.

2. In combination with a sap bucket and a sap spout for suspending the bucket thereon, a bucket cover comprising a cover plate provided with a depending flange extending the entire width of said plate and below the rim of said bucket and 5 pivotally mounted upon the spout.

3. In combination with a sap bucket and a sap spout for suspending the bucket thereon, a bucket cover comprising a cover plate provided with a depending flange having an elliptical ori- 10 fice for the passage of the spout therethrough.

4. In combination with a sap bucket and a sap spout for suspending the bucket thereon, a bucket cover comprising a cover plate provided with a depending flange, the plate and flange 15 being so designed and proportioned that the plate covers the bucket and touches its rim and the flange extends below the rim of the bucket, when the bucket and the cover are mounted on the spout. 2

5. In combination with a sap bucket and a sap spout for suspending the bucket thereon, a bucket cover comprising a cover plate provided with a depending flange having an elliptical orifice for the passage of the spout therethrough, and a 25 washer applied to the spout and covering said orifice.

GEORGE P. WOOD. 

